Alaska Cruisetours
There's nothing else like it in the world, an Alaska cruisetour with Princess Cruises. From the incredible glaciers and charming Inside Passage towns of your voyage, to stays in dramatic Princess wilderness lodges at Denali National Park and beyond, it's certain to be the land-and-sea adventure you've always dreamed of. We look forward to welcoming you and being your host in the Great Land.
Below is supplemental information for the land portion of your cruisetour. Click on a topic headline to view detailed information relating to your selection.
Flight Guidelines
Land Tour First, Then Cruise
| Arrival Locations | Suggested Flight Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | No later than 11 p.m. first night of cruisetour. |
| Fairbanks | Arrive at any time first night of cruisetour. |
| Seattle | Arrive at any time first night of cruisetour. Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the first night of your cruisetour in Seattle. |
Note: Please be aware that your hotel room may not be available until 3 p.m. on the day of your arrival.
| Departure Locations | Suggested Flight Departure Time |
|---|---|
| Vancouver Pier to Vancouver Airport | No earlier than 11 a.m. domestic/12:30 p.m. International on disembarkation day. |
| Vancouver Pier to Seattle Airport |
No
earlier
than
4
p.m.
disembarkation
day. Transfer time: 5 hours. |
Cruise First, Then Land Tour
| Arrival Locations | Suggested Flight Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| Seattle for Vancouver Sailing |
No
later
than
10
a.m.
embarkation
day. Transfer time: 5 hours. |
| Vancouver | No later than 2 p.m. embarkation day. |
| Departure Locations | Suggested Flight Departure Time |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
| Fairbanks | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
| Seattle | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
US & Canada only 800-545-0008
Outside US & Canada 661-284-4410
Within Australia 13 24 88
Special Needs/Access
Lift-equipped
motorcoaches,
accessible
hotel rooms
and seating
on trains
are limited
and need to
be secured
in advance.
Should you
need a
wheelchair,
it is
imperative
that you
bring your
own or make
arrangements
for one to
be provided.
You can
pre-reserve
a wheelchair
and have it
and other
medical
equipment
delivered on
land by
contacting
Special
Needs at Sea
at
800-513-4515
(outside the
US
954-585-0575)
or by
visiting
specialneedsatsea.com.
Alternatively,
you can
contact
CareVacations
at
877-478-7827
or
cruiseshipassist.com.
For any
special
accessibility
requests,
please put
your request
in writing
and fax it
to the
Princess
Access
Office at
661-284-4408
at least 30
days prior
to your
travel.
Or if you have questions about the program in general, please call the Princess Access Office at 661-284-4521.
On Land in Alaska
There are important differences between the cruise and land portions of your cruisetour. Please read the following section to better understand those differences.
Time
Zones
All
Princess
destinations
in Alaska
lie in the
Alaska
Daylight
Time zone,
which is one
hour earlier
than Pacific
Standard
Time.
Seattle,
Washington
is on
Pacific
Standard
Time, as is
Canada's
British
Columbia and
Yukon
Territories.
Currency/Banking
Information
On your
Alaska
cruisetour,
you will
enter both
the US and
Canada. All
land
expenses
incurred in
Alaska are
in US
currency
(USD). Any
expenses you
may incur in
Vancouver,
B.C.,
Canada, will
be in
Canadian
currency
(CAD).
Cash
Expenses
Unlike
cruising,
cashless
travel does
not apply on
land. Make
sure to have
cash and/or
a credit
card and
valid ID on
hand.
Additional
expenses
will include
and are not
limited to:
meals at
your lodge
and
elsewhere,
room
incidentals,
shuttle
services,
laundry, non
pre-reserved
optional
land
excursions
and gift
shop
purchases.
If you wish
to charge
meals,
drinks or
phone calls
to your
hotel room,
stop by the
front desk
upon arrival
at your
destination
to establish
credit.
Meals/Dining
All
meals
onboard our
railcars, at
our
wilderness
lodges and
at other
hotels are
at your own
expense
unless
otherwise
specified in
the daily
tour
itinerary.
Visit the
Cruise
Personalizer
for your
detailed
itinerary.
The
following is
a
low-to-high
range of
what you can
expect to
pay (in US
dollars) for
meals in
Alaska:
| Meals in Alaska | Range |
|---|---|
| Breakfast entrée | $9 - $14 |
| Appetizer | $6 - $16 |
| Soup & Sandwich | $9 - $14 |
| Deluxe Hamburger | $10 - $13 |
| Salmon dinner | $26 - $37 |
| Steak dinner | $26 - $33 |
| Dessert | $4 - $10 |
Note: Price ranges are approximate and subject to change. Princess will make every effort to meet your special requests for low-sodium, low-fat, low sugar and vegetarian diets. Ask to see the Food and Beverage manager or Hotel Services Manager at your lodge or hotel to communicate your needs.
Tipping
Gratuities
are not
included
during the
land portion
of your
cruisetour.
Gratuities
are a
personal
matter and
an
expression
of
appreciation
for genuine,
personal
service
provided by
knowledgeable
and creative
professionals.
Below are
suggested
ranges (in
US dollars)
to assist
you in
determining
what
gratuity
amount is
appropriate.
Please
extend any
gratuities
on an
individual
basis, not
as a group.
| Service | Gratuity |
|---|---|
| Meals | Average 15% gratuity for server |
| Driver Guides, Train Staff and Land Excursion Guide |
$2
(half-day
of
service
per
person) $4 (full-day of service per person) |
| Escorted Tour Director | $5 - $7 (per person, per day) |
Electricity
Information
The US
operates on
a 110-volt
system, and
uses a plug
with two
flat
parallel
prongs. Most
US
electrical
outlets will
have a third
round,
ground hole.
A two-prong
plug will
still work
in a
three-hole
outlet. If
you are
traveling
from outside
the US, you
may need a
plug adapter
and/or
voltage
converter
for
electronic
devices.
Cell
Phone
Coverage
Given
the areas
through
which you
will be
traveling,
wireless
reception
may be
limited or
in some
cases,
non-existent.
Please take
this into
consideration
prior to
your
departure so
that your
family and
friends are
aware.
Contact your
cell phone
carrier to
determine
limitations
and services
that exist
in Alaska
and Canada.
Traveling
with
Children
While
traveling in
Alaska with
infants or
children, it
is
prohibited
for the
operator of
a motor
vehicle to
transport
any person
under the
age of 16 if
they are not
secured in
that vehicle
using a
safety
device
approved by
the US
Department
of
Transportation.
Alaska law
requires
that infants
and children
under the
age five be
secured in
the
appropriate
car seat,
booster seat
or other
child
restraint
system.
Children and
teens five
to 16 years
of age must
be secured
using a
safety
device which
is
appropriate
for that
person. It
is
imperative
that you
bring any
device,
beyond a
seat belt,
that you
deem
necessary to
properly
secure your
child. Some
land or
shore
excursions
utilize
smaller
vehicles and
will require
you and your
child to be
secured
while
traveling.
This
includes
tours into
Denali
National
Park.
Climate
Cruisetours
cover a
broad range
of
destinations
with an
equally wide
variety of
weather
possibilities,
so we
suggest you
bring
clothes that
are suited
to layering.
This will
offer the
greatest
flexibility
in adapting
your
clothing to
the
conditions
of the day.
This average low/high temperature chart will give you an idea of what to expect:
Average Low/High Temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit)
| Destination | May | June | July | August | September |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Alaska/British Columbia: Mild summers, frequent rain | 46/54 | 54/62 | 58/66 | 56/64 | 48/55 |
| Interior Alaska/Interior Canada: Sometimes hot/dry in summer | 48/70 | 55/70 | 61/90 | 56/80 | 45/60 |
|
Prudhoe
Bay: Summers are mild and cool |
34/42 | 46/54 | 50/65 | 49/57 | 42/49 |
Altitude
Many guests
have
concerns
about the
altitude
encountered
during their
journeys.
The
following
chart shows
the maximum
elevations
you will
encounter on
your
cruisetour:
| Location | Highest Altitude |
|---|---|
| Denali National Park |
3,900
ft.
(Tundra
Wilderness
Tour) 2,800 ft. (Natural History Tour) |
| Copper River cruisetours | 4,068 ft. (to and from Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) |
| Arctic Explorer cruisetours | 3,900 ft. (Atigun Pass) |
| Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge | 1,040 ft. |
| Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge | 1,600 ft. |
| Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge | 920 ft. (Turnagain Pass) |
| Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge | 720 ft. |
| Anchorage | 101 ft. |
| Fairbanks | 440 ft. |
Insects
Take
measures to
avoid being
bitten by
insects and
wear light
colored,
loose-fitting
clothing
that covers
your arms
and legs.
Regularly
apply an
insect
repellent.
Wildlife
Encounters
You may
encounter
some of
Alaska's
abundant
wildlife
while
ashore. We
strongly
suggest you
keep a good
distance
from
wildlife to
avoid
danger, and
never
attempt to
touch or
feed any of
the animals
you may see
from the
ship or
while
ashore.
Pre-Reserve Land Excursions
Princess is pleased to offer you the ability to pre-reserve your excursions for the land portion of your cruisetour using the Cruise Personalizer® at princess.com. Included is a list of land excursion options that are customized to best fit your itinerary with detailed information about each excursion. You may browse through these options or create a personalized brochure of your excursion options to save, print and/or review at your leisure. When you are ready to pre-reserve your land excursions, go to the Cruise Personalizer® and have your booking number and credit card information ready to enter. A credit card must be registered for each passenger that wishes to participate in a land excursion and we accept Princess Visa, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diner's Club. Credit cards used to pre-reserve land excursions must be valid through the full length of your cruisetour and may also be used to establish your shipboard account. Although a credit card is required to reserve your excursion(s), guests are able to pre-reserve all of their land excursions with no deposit required. An auto-charge of all pre-reserved excursions will take place two days prior to your first Land Excursion booking. Confirmed pre-reserved excursions can be viewed at any time in your detailed itinerary in the Cruise Personalizer® and access will remain open until five days prior to your cruisetour departure date so you may add or cancel tours prior to that time. Excursions cancelled once the auto-charge has been processed are subject to a 100% penalty. Note that excursion availability is based on cruisetour date, capacity limitations, and suitable weather conditions. Excursions are subject to change at any time and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are encouraged to book early as space is limited and flightseeing tours in particular may not be available for pre-reserving right up to tour departure date. Prior to travel, print your Travel Itinerary which will have a listing of all of your pre-reserved land excursions. You will also receive information on confirmed excursions with your Welcome Envelope upon arrival at each location. Make your cruisetour with Princess an even more memorable one and pre-reserve your land excursions today.
Note: For those guests without internet access or requiring assistance, you may call 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237). All phone reservations must be received five days prior to your cruisetour departure date.
Cancellation
Policy
Land
Excursions,
pre-reserved
through the
Cruise
Personalizer,
may be
cancelled in
the Cruise
Personalizer
up to five
days prior
to your
cruisetour
departure
date. The
Land
Excursion
cancellation
deadline is
two days
prior to
your first
land
excursion
booking. At
the
cancellation
deadline,
all
pre-reserved
land
excursions
will be
auto-charged
using the
credit card
that you
provided in
the Cruise
Personalizer
to reserve
your tours.
Excursions
cancelled
once the
auto-charge
has been
processed
are subject
to a 100%
penalty,
unless the
operator, at
their sole
discretion,
is unable to
operate the
program due
to
unforeseen
circumstances.
All sales of
tours booked
while on
your land
tour are
considered
final at the
time of
purchase and
are 100%
non-refundable
except in
the case of
an operator
approved
cancellation.
Children
Provided
that
children are
accompanied
by a parent
or legal
guardian,
there is
typically no
minimum age
required on
most
excursions.
Children's
prices are
available
for most
tours; in
most cases
there is no
charge for
children
under the
age of two,
provided
they do not
occupy a
seat.
Individuals
under 18 may
be required
to provide
parental
written
consent if
attending
the tour
alone. For
tours
involving
travel by
van,
children
under the
age of five
or who weigh
less than 40
lbs. must be
seated in a
child safety
seat.
(Federal Law
does not
require
child safety
in
motorcoaches).
On
helicopter
tours,
children
need to be
two or older
and require
their own
seat. On
fixed-wing
flightseeing
tours,
children
under 24
months of
age are
considered
lap infants
and may ride
free of
charge.
Clothing
Given
Alaska's
fluctuating
climate, we
strongly
suggest you
dress in
layers and
wear
comfortable,
low-heeled
walking
shoes or
sturdier
shoes for
activities
such as
hiking. You
might want
to bring a
fold-up
umbrella and
a light
jacket in
your
carry-on.
Bringing
sunglasses
on your
excursion is
highly
recommended.
Conditions
In
selling
tickets
(including
coupons or
vouchers) or
otherwise
promoting or
making
arrangements
for
excursions -
whether for
air, land or
local water
transportation;
tours;
sports or
any other
recreational
activities;
shore
accommodations
or meals or
for any
service,
facility or
activity
other than
onboard
Princess
ships -
Princess
acts only as
agent for
the
independent
tour
operator
supplying
such
excursions
or services.
Participation
by a
passenger on
excursions
is
conditioned
upon such
passenger's
acceptance
of the terms
and
conditions
set forth in
the Passage
Contract,
the
excursion
ticket and,
depending on
the
activity,
other
documents
which, among
other
things,
expressly
release
Princess
from any
liability
for such
participation.
Participation
may also be
subject to
the
independent
tour
operators'
own terms
and
conditions.
Excursion
Departure
Times
Passengers
are
requested to
report to
the
specified
departure
location at
least ten
minutes
prior to the
time
designated
on your
Welcome
Envelope or
tour ticket.
Checking in
with our
tour desk
hosts is
encouraged
to reconfirm
all tour
times.
Excursions
with Limited
Participation
Excursions
may be
purchased in
advance of
your
departure on
a
first-come,
first-served
basis. Many
excursions
have limited
participation
and
reservations
will be
processed in
the order
received.
When
excursions
are fully
subscribed,
additional
requests
will be
placed on a
waiting list
in the order
received.
Fishing
Guidelines
-
Conditions
and
seasonality
Fish runs
are
dependent on
spawning
seasons,
weather,
river
levels,
commercial
fishing
pressure,
and numerous
other
variables.
Your fishing
location
and/or
destination
could change
depending on
these
conditions
and state
regulations
at the time
of your
visit.
Please
remember you
have
purchased an
opportunity
to catch
fish, not a
guarantee to
do so. Water
conditions
vary. Rivers
fed by
glacier
water appear
gray due to
the high
silt content
and rivers
fed by lake
water are
clear. The
Copper River
section
features
fishing
tours on
both glacier
fed (the
Klutina) and
clear water
(the Gulkana)
rivers.
Kenai offers
clear water
fishing on
the upper
and lower
Kenai River.
Seasonality
of species
varies with
each river
as is
mentioned in
the tour
descriptions.
-
Regulations
If the
Alaska
Department
of Fish and
Game
determines
that there
are not
enough
salmon
entering the
river to
sustain an
adequate
regeneration
population,
the fishing
season may
be cut back,
catch limits
decreased,
or other
similar
regulatory
rules
implemented.
In order to
conserve
salmon and
other
species,
current
regulations
require you
to stop
fishing once
you have
retained the
maximum
limit by
law.
Information
on Alaska's
current
regulations
can also be
found online
at
www.adfg.state.ak.us.
If your tour
is not
designated
as catch and
release,
your catch
can be
processed
and shipped
home for an
additional
charge. In
most cases,
this service
can be
arranged
through the
fishing
guide or the
tour
company. Due
to Alaskan
law, the
lodges are
not allowed
to process
and/or cook
any sport
caught
salmon.
Because of
its
perishable
nature and
US Customs
regulations,
your catch
may not be
sent outside
of the
United
States in
most cases.
- Licensing
Fishing
licenses are
not included
in the
excursion
price.
Fishing
licenses
will be
handled
locally. We
will assist
you with
arranging a
fishing
license,
either
through the
guide
service, or
at the lodge
location.
Prices for a
license will
vary
depending on
the number
of days you
choose to
fish. A one
day
non-resident
sport
fishing
license is
$20. King
Salmon
require an
additional
$10 stamp.
Go to
www.adfg.state.ak.us
for more
details on
pricing.
Children
under 16 do
not need a
fishing
license.
Flightseeing
Excursions
Due to
weight and
balance
limitations
of small
aircraft, as
well as for
your own
safety and
comfort,
flightseeing
operators
require
Princess to
provide the
individual
weights of
all our
passengers.
As a result,
prior to
your
flightseeing
excursion,
lodge
personnel
will be
requesting
this
information
from you so
that we can
provide it
to the
flightseeing
operator in
a timely
manner.
Helicopters
may carry up
to 6
passengers
depending on
combined
group weight
and carry-on
items are
limited to a
camera that
can be
carried on
your lap.
Please note,
the flight
length and
amount of
time spent
on the
glacier,
shown in the
duration
section of
each tour,
are
approximate
and may vary
due to
weather
conditions.
Personal
Possessions
Personal
articles
should
remain at
all times
under the
passenger's
custody and
control. Be
careful that
you do not
leave your
possessions
unattended
at any time
in the
vehicle or
coach in
which you
are
traveling,
unless
instructed
otherwise.
For most
flightseeing
tours you
will be
asked to
leave behind
all
carry-on's
and our
operators
have been
instructed
to secure
these for
you while
you are on
tour.
Prices
The
prices for
the
excursions
are in US
dollars and
subject to
change
without
notice. All
quotations
made include
conveyance
according to
the
itinerary
and, where
applicable,
meals,
refreshments,
guides, and
entrance
fees, unless
otherwise
stated.
Children,
other than
infants in
arms, will
be charged
full fare
unless noted
otherwise.
Refunds
In the
event of any
excursion
being
canceled for
reasons
beyond our
control, a
full refund
will be
made. Land
Excursions
that were
pre-reserved,
auto charged
and then
cancelled
due to
weather will
be refunded
using the
same credit
card used to
book your
excursions.
These
refunds will
typically be
reflected on
your credit
card
statement
between 7-10
business
days after
cancellation.
Tours booked
while on
your land
tour are
considered
final at the
time of
purchase and
are 100%
non-refundable
except in
the case of
a
cancellation
by the
vendor.
Should any
excursion
have to be
abandoned
through
force
majeure or
difficulties
en route,
the best
possible
refund will
be arranged
according to
the
circumstances.
Service
Princess
is dedicated
to providing
the best
tour
experience
possible for
our guests
and we work
with a
number of
companies to
provide a
diverse and
entertaining
tour product
for you to
choose
from. Each
season
excursions
that surpass
expectations
and
individual
guides who
provide
excellent
service are
presented
awards. You
can assist
us with
recognizing
outstanding
tours and
guides by
simply
completing
the short
service
recognition
form
available at
the sales
desks at
each sales
location.
If you
experience a
problem
while on
tour, we ask
that you
immediately
contact one
of our local
managers so
that we can
work to
resolve it
while you
enjoy the
rest of your
vacation.
Smoking
We have
a no smoking
policy while
our guests
are on
transportation
tours of any
kind or in
an enclosed
environment.
Tipping
Tipping
is a
discretionary
matter.
However, it
is
customary,
if one is
pleased with
the tour, to
tip the tour
guide.
Transportation
The
standards of
transport
vary
considerably
throughout
the state.
Air-conditioned
coaches are
not
available in
many areas.
Passengers
wishing to
travel with
friends
should all
leave
together, as
this will
help the
Tour Staff
to allocate
them space
in the same
vehicle. For
the comfort
of all
passengers,
smoking is
prohibited
aboard the
sightseeing
vehicles.
Wheelchairs
For
guests using
wheelchairs,
we recommend
reserving
the
accessible
sightseeing
tours as
designated
by the
wheelchair
icon in the
Cruise
Personalizer.
Some tours
not
designated
as suitable
for
wheelchairs
may be
adaptable to
your unique
circumstances
depending on
your
abilities.
If a
particular
tour is of
special
interest,
please
inquire as
to what
limitations
exist to see
if they
apply to
you.
Wheelchairs
are not
provided by
our Tour
Suppliers.
Wildlife
guarantee
We
cannot
guarantee
that you
will see
wildlife.
Our Tour
Suppliers
make every
effort to
fulfill a
tour's
description;
however,
weather,
time of
season and
other
factors
beyond our
control can
affect
wildlife
sightings
and scenic
views.
Withdrawal
of Tours
The Tour
Operator
reserves the
right to
withdraw any
excursion
through lack
of demand
and to make
any
alterations
that they
may deem
advisable
for the
comfort of
the
passengers,
bearing in
mind the
convenience
and best
interest of
each group.
Denali National Park Tours
Denali National Park Tours
Many
Princess
Alaska
cruisetours
include an
exciting
tour through
the park;
however,
Princess
offers the
flexibility
to choose
your
preferred
experience
from four
unique tour
options.
Select the
appropriate
Denali
National
Park tour
experience
for you.
Click here
for more
information
on the tour
options »
For cruisetour guests without an included park tour, you may book your tour through Land Excursions by going to the Cruise Personalizer®.
To change the Denali Park tour on an existing Alaska cruisetour booking, please have your Travel Agent call Princess. If you didn't use a Travel Agent to book your cruisetour call a Princess Representative at 1-800-426-0442. The price difference will be applied to the booking. Don't wait; availability is limited. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Not all requests can be accommodated. Changes must be made 14 days prior to departure.
Note: No tour operator, including Princess, is authorized to use their own motorcoach inside the park boundary. Sightseeing tours inside of Denali National Park use school buses. Children under 5 years and/or 40 pounds are required to be in a child safety device (car seat) to ride on buses. Passengers must bring their own child safety device.
What to Bring
Clothing
Suggestions
Alaska
is very
casual both
in the
evenings, as
well as the
day. Casual,
active
sportswear
is the best
option, as
you will
likely be
enjoying
tours and
activities
outdoors.
You'll want
comfortable
clothes and
good walking
shoes, and
the ability
to be
layered for
everything
from sunny
afternoons
to chilly
nights. As
the weather
can be
unpredictable,
a warm
jacket is
advisable.
Here is a brief listing of suggested items:
Daytime
- Water repellent coat or jacket
- Rain hat
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
- Lightweight windbreaker
- Sweaters
- Pants or shorts
Evening
- Warm coat (temperatures can get lower in the evening)
- Same attire as worn during the day - casual
Other Recommended Items
- Cameras
- Binoculars
- Travel alarm clock
- Insect repellent
- Car seat for those traveling with children
- US National Parks pass (not required)
- Collapsible umbrella
- Sunglasses
Luggage
All Princess cruisetours include our hassle-free luggage handling service every step of the way. During the land portion of your vacation, we'll take care of transporting your luggage from one location to the next.
Important luggage reminders:
- Essential medicines, travel documents, valuables and breakables should be hand carried in your possession at all times.
- All Alaska luggage tags for the land portion of your cruisetour will be distributed by Princess Representatives in Alaska. Luggage tags for the cruise portion of your cruisetour should be printed prior to leaving home.
- Luggage fees imposed by airlines are the responsibility of each guest. Please check with each carrier prior to departure for specific guidelines.
- Many domestic airline carriers now impose baggage fees for one or more bags and bags weighing over 50 lbs., so check with your carrier regarding weight restrictions.
- Princess will make every effort to assist you in safeguarding your belongings. But remember, you are responsible for your things at all times. Princess is not responsible for money, jewelry, cameras, binoculars, documents or any other articles you retain in your personal control.
- All luggage should have a sturdy personal identification tag that will not be lost or damaged in the course of typical airport and trucked luggage handling.
- On journeys including air travel, luggage will be subject to a considerable amount of handling and we would recommend that your luggage be of sturdy construction.
- Princess recommends that your travel protection is adequate enough to cover any possible loss or damage which may occur. Any loss or damage caused by Princess or an airline must be reported immediately to the responsible party.
- For passengers who have purchased an Air Advantage package, please refer to your detailed itinerary found in the Cruise Personalizer® for additional details regarding luggage.
Packing
for your
Land Tour
Cruisetours
involve many
modes of
transportation
including
motorcoaches,
trains and
sightseeing
vehicles so
make sure
you take
only the
things you
need to
ensure
comfort for
you and your
fellow
travelers.
There are
different
types of
bags to
consider for
the land
portion of
your
cruisetour.
Hand-Carry Tote/Backpack
- You'll want this bag with you every step of the way, so include only the essentials.
- Items to pack in this bag include travel documents, photo ID, important medication, toiletries, camera, and any extra layers of clothing such as jackets or hats.
- Your hand-carry tote bag should be a size that is comfortable to carry and should be able to be stowed under your seat. We recommend soft-sided tote bags or backpacks no larger than 17" x 14" x 4" with a zip enclosure.
- Wheeled carry on cases that are used to carry-on luggage on airlines are too large and are not suitable as hand-carried luggage on motorcoaches and trains.
"Join Me
Tonight"
Luggage
You are
allowed one
piece of
"Join Me
Tonight"
baggage per
person on
the land
portion of
your
cruisetour.
You will
simply pack
one bag and
place
luggage
where
instructed.
Our handlers
will pick it
up and
deliver it
to your room
at the next
overnight
location on
your land
tour.
- This bag will be transported separately from you and will not be accessible during transit.
- Items to put in this bag include clothing, sleepwear, nonessential toiletries, extra shoes and anything else you might need at your hotel but do not need access to during the day.
"Join Me Onboard" Luggage (for guests who cruise after their land tour)
- Passengers who cruise after their land tour should pack a separate bag for items they will not need on land.
- This bag is perfect for the items you may need on your cruise but will not need on your land tour, such as formal wear, dress shoes, or dinner jackets. On the land portion of your cruisetour, the dress code is always casual so there is no need for any formal wear.
- All luggage is delivered to the first destination on your land itinerary. Upon departure from that city, the "Join Me Onboard" tagged bags will be securely stored until they are delivered to your stateroom onboard.
"Join Me in Fairbanks/Anchorage" Luggage (for guests who cruise prior to their land tour)
- Passengers who cruise prior to their land tour should pack all the items they used on their cruise and will not need on land in this piece of luggage. After disembarkation from the ship, these bags will be inaccessible until delivered upon your arrival in the final destination of your itinerary.
- Please identify your chosen pieces of luggage (excluding the one "Join Me Tonight" bag) with the "Join Me" tags based on your final destination.
Transportation
Rail Travel
- Government-issued photo identification and boarding information are required prior to embarkation.
- Storage space is limited; we request that your hand-carried bag not exceed the size of a standard tote.
- Smoking is limited to the viewing platform or outdoor vestibules.
- Please do not bring food for consumption onboard.
| Rail | Rail Segments | Duration | Car Type | Food Service | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali Express | Between Whittier and Denali (for service to/from Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) | Approx. 9.5hrs^^ | Double-decker glass domed luxury rail cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail
Guides
provide
narration
en
route *Gift Shop onboard *Open-air viewing platform |
| McKinley Express | Between Whittier and Talkeetna (for service to/from Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge) | Approx. 5.5hrs^^ | Single-level glass domed cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail
Guides
provide
narration
en
route *Club car onboard |
| Princess Rail Service |
Between
Anchorage
and
Talkeetna Between Talkeetna and Denali Between Denali and Fairbanks |
Approx. 4hrs^^ | Double-decker glass domed luxury rail cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail
Guides
provide
narration
en
route *Gift Shop onboard *Open-air viewing platform |
^Expect to
pay prices
similar to a
hotel
restaurant.
If meals are
included or
pre-purchased
they will be
specified in
your
itinerary in
the
Cruise
Personalizer®.
^^Travel
time is an
estimate and
varies.
Motorcoach Transportation
- Princess provides trained and knowledgeable drivers for your motorcoach travels.
- Motorcoach segments between all points tend to be shorter in duration than rail.
- Seating aboard the coaches is not assigned, but guests may be asked to rotate throughout each day to allow everyone access to the forward seats.
- Ample stops are made for photo and rest breaks.
- Coaches are equipped with restrooms.
- All sightseeing tours inside Denali National Park are operated by the National Park Service concessionaire. No tour operator, including Princess, is authorized to use their own motorcoach inside the park boundary. Sightseeing tours inside of Denali National Park use school buses.
Accommodations
Hotel Stays
- Princess utilized both Princess-owned-and-operated lodges as well as independent 3rd party hotels and your cruisetour could include overnight stays at either.
- You will be assigned a hotel prior to travel. This information will be available in the Cruise Personalizer® 21 days prior to departure and a notification will be sent to your travel agent.
- Hotels are selected for their location, amenities, staff services or historical significance. In larger cities you will find more modern full-service hotels with televisions and telephones in each room and a choice of restaurants. In smaller cities and in the more remote locations, the hotels, though comfortable, are more rustic and the services are limited.
- Air conditioning is not available at most hotels.
- In Prudhoe Bay and Coldfoot, accommodations are of modular constructions and, though clean and warm, are of a basic nature.
- We communicate the bed configuration requested, but bed types are limited and room assignments are at the discretion of the management of each hotel. As a guideline, accommodations for two guests sharing the same room usually consist of one double/queen bed, two twin beds or a double/queen bed with a fold-out couch. Accommodations for the three guest are one double/queen bed with a fold-out couch or rollaway. Accommodations for four guests are two double/queen beds.
- Smoking is prohibited in the hotel rooms, dining venues and common areas at Princess-owned properties. For other Alaska accommodations, we communicate the smoking or non-smoking preferences, but due to availability, these room types are not guaranteed.
- Some Alaska hotels do not have elevators. If you have special requests or concerns regarding accessibility, or if you would like to request disabled or easy access hotel rooms, refer to the Special Needs/Access section for instructions and contact information.
- Check-in time for Anchorage and Fairbanks hotels is typically 3 p.m., while check-out is no later than 11 a.m. If you have charged items of a personal nature to your room, please settle your account at least one hour before departure time.
Shopping
Each
Princess
wilderness
lodge
features a
gift shop
where you
can purchase
sundries as
well as
gifts and
souvenirs.
For those
that
purchase
items at the
gift shop
but don't
have room in
their
luggage,
Princess
offers our
"Ship Shop"
program. For
your
convenience,
we offer
shipping for
your
purchases
from any of
our gift
shop
locations. A
small
handling fee
will apply
in addition
to the
actual
shipping
costs, based
on local
post office
rates.













